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Balm is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,457 at the 2010 census.
Contents
Map of Balm, FL 33598, USA
History
A post office was established here in 1902 and called Doric: it was renamed the next month to Balm. The community was so named on account of their "balmy" air. Prior to 1902, the Seaboard Air Line Railway established Balm as a flag stop. The railroad built a one-room station and water tank. This made Balm a focal point, and a small community including a blacksmith, sawmills, a teacher and a general store sprang up by 1911. In 1937, electricity arrived, soon followed by a community telephone, setup in a barn for all to use. By 1945 the area had a population of over a thousand.
Economy
Originally a rail stop and logging town, the economy is mostly agricultural, largely citrus. The University of Florida's Tomato Breeding Program is located in Balm. IN 2005, the Bradenton REC, was merged with the Dover REC to become the Gulf Coast Research and Experiment Center, which was relocated to Balm. Other activities at the GCREC include hops research. Tropical fish farming has also been a significant industry in the area.